Public Dance Licences: Is Public Liability Insurance Required?

In a case stated from the District Court, the High Court has determined that having public liability insurance is not a prerequisite to being granted a public dancing licence.

Background

This case concerned an application for a public dancing licence by the Neville Hotels Unlimited Company (“the Applicant”) in relation to the Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort in Co. Wicklow, pursuant to the Public Dance Halls Act 1935 as amended (“the 1935 Act”).

The Applicant is part of the Neville Group (“the Group”), which is involved in business, construction and hotel sectors. Up until 30 April 2020, the Group had maintained public liability insurance for certain public liability risks, including those arising from its hotel business. From 1 May 2020, it decided to self-insure against such risks. Its reason for doing so was that in recent years, the excess on its policy was such that it had paid out on all claims from its own resources, and was effectively self-insuring in